BWA Partners for New Position to Work with an Emerging Generation

Created: Tuesday, 01 May 2018 08:12

FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- The Baptist World Alliance has named Jeff Carter director of Horizons and Congress Mobilization. This new position is part of a partnership with Canadian Baptist Ministries and enhances the commitment and capacity of the BWA to work with an emerging generation of Baptist leaders.

As director, Carter will give leadership to two major initiatives, according to Elijah Brown, BWA general secretary. First, Carter will help transition Horizons, an online youth leadership training program, from the European Baptist Federation to the BWA.

“Already translated in 11 languages and used in 30 countries, Horizons has trained thousands of individuals and, through the BWA, will have a truly global reach,” Brown said. “Horizons will provide high caliber training and coaching for those seeking to serve an emerging generation of Baptist leaders.”

Carter also will help provide leadership in mobilizing member bodies, churches, and individuals to participate in the upcoming BWA Celebration in July 2020. This 22nd BWA Congress will be in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and is expected to draw 4,000 Baptists from around the world to participate in worship, celebration, prayerful reflection, and missional action.

Themed “Together,” this celebration will be an “unparalleled opportunity for Baptists of all ages to celebrate with one another, learn from one another, and partner with one another in impacting the world for Christ,” Brown said.

Pre-registration is set to begin later this year.

Carter is a graduate of Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Acadia Divinity College, and McMaster Divinity College (Doctor of Ministry). His dissertation examined the virtual community and the millennial generation and how they engage with authentic Christian community online. He recently completed a Ph.D. at the University of Wales examining, in part, the Internet and its effect on the spiritual health of young people.

First Moncton Baptist Church ordained Carter as a Canadian Baptist minister in 1992. Since 2002, Carter, his wife Deann, and their family have served as CBM global field staff alongside the European Baptist Federation.

Carter is a long standing member of BWA’s Youth Executive Committee and served on the International Planning Committee for two BWA Youth Conferences. He is now on the planning committee of the BWA 2020 Celebration.

Carter will begin with the BWA in September.

CBM Executive Director Terry Smith noted of Jeff and Deann Carter’s impact: “Over the past 14 years, I have watched with admiration the success of the Horizons training program for youth workers in strengthening the witness of local churches throughout Europe and the Middle East. I have also talked to many of the leaders of the European Baptist Fellowship who attest to the fact that Horizons has been a strategic, bridge-building resource, reaching even further in order to help shape a new generation of church leaders.”

Brown noted: “I am grateful to Terry Smith and CBM for the opportunity to collaborate in partnership and to work together to enhance Kingdom impact. At a time when over 65 percent of all of the world’s Christians are under the age of 45, I am excited that Dr. Carter, who has extensive experience and a joyful spirit of service, will help strengthen the ability of Baptists around the world to receive vital training. I invite us to look forward in prayerful anticipation to the launch of this initiative and to working alongside Dr. Carter as he encourages us to come together as a global family mobilized for action in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 2020.”